Video Feature: College Students, Faculty, Staff And Their Concerns About College Textbook Costs

ByIowaWatch/College Media Journalism Project |May 8, 2018

Educators and even workers at stores selling the books share students’ concerns about textbook costs. The average price of a new college textbook rose from $58 in 2011-12 to $82 in 2014-15 before dropping slightly to $80 in 2015-16, the National Association of College Stores reports.

Here, in their own words, are students and faculty Loras College, William Penn University, Simpson College and the University of Northern Iowa, who are concerned about those costs.

School years listed for each student were for the spring 2018 semester.

LORAS COLLEGE

Clarice Kies, senior??

Alex Kruse, junior

Morgan Muenster, sophomore

Erin VanLaningham, associate professor of English?

Loras College videos by Amber Krieg

WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY

Justin Hagans, sophomore?

William Penn University interview by Sabrina Bryant

SIMPSON COLLEGE

Breanna Waugh, sophomore

Casey Nickel, graduates in December

Simpson College interviews by Zoe Seiler

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA

Brittany Skokan, junior

Dylan Miller, sophomore

Kimberly Wilderdyke, sophomore

University of Northern Iowa videos by Sofia Legaspi (Miller and Vanderdyke) and Anna Flanders (Skokan)